Phoenix Flag Raised at Midnight on the 29th
All Official Emblems and Name Changed to "Blue House"
First "Tea Time" Held in Main Building Reception Room
President to Inspect National Crisis Management Center
Main Office Relocated to Yeomin Buil
President Lee Jaemyung will leave the Yongsan presidential office and begin his official duties at Cheong Wa Dae, where the phoenix flag, the symbol of South Korea's head of state, will be raised as of midnight on December 29. The phoenix flag is always flown at the main office of the president. This move marks a break from the "Yongsan era," which was marred by incidents such as the December 3 Martial Law and the impeachment of the president, and returns both the symbolic and functional role of the nation’s control tower to Cheong Wa Dae after 1,330 days.
On this day, President Lee will leave his official residence in Hannam-dong and commute to Cheong Wa Dae along a road lined with banners reading "Back to Cheong Wa Dae, Shining as the Light of the Square." In line with the policy of "the Cheong Wa Dae era begins in earnest from the second year in office," Cheong Wa Dae, which is fully prepared to welcome President Lee, has changed both its name and official logo from "Presidential Office" to "Cheong Wa Dae." New Year’s greeting cards have also been updated to reflect the new name and sent to key figures and national merit recipients. Kang Hoonshik, Chief Presidential Secretary, appeared on the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s YouTube channel and said that next year will be a year of "leap and challenge," adding, "Our work was to reboot the Republic of Korea. Now, the reboot is just beginning, and returning to Cheong Wa Dae feels like a symbol of recovery and normalization."
Upon arriving at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee will first visit his symbolic office on the second floor of the main building, then move to the reception room for a "morning tea time" with his aides. The main building office, created in 1991 when former President Roh Taewoo rebuilt the main building, has been a symbol of the president’s stature and authority. However, as it is located about 500 meters from Yeomin-gwan, where most aides work, face-to-face briefings required either driving or walking for more than 15 minutes, which significantly reduced work efficiency. This contributed to the image of a "palace within a palace."
After finishing his schedule in the main building office, President Lee plans to visit the Cheong Wa Dae Crisis Management Center, commonly known as the "underground bunker," to inspect the restoration status. The National Crisis Management Center at Cheong Wa Dae was relocated to the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building when the Yoon Sukyeol administration began, raising concerns as the previous location and security facilities were exposed. However, Cheong Wa Dae has since reinforced the facilities and plans to continue using them as is.
Afterward, President Lee is expected to move to his main office in Yeomin Building 1 to carry out his scheduled work. The Yeomin Building 1 office was established for regular meetings between former Presidents Roh Moohyun and Lee Myungbak and their aides, and former President Moon Jaein worked in an office on the third floor of Yeomin Building 1 from the start of his term.
To dispel concerns about the geographical location and structural limitations of Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee also plans to primarily use the Yeomin Building 1 office, just as former President Moon did. The main building will be used for events with high symbolic value, such as summits, national ceremonies, and meetings with foreign dignitaries. President Lee also instructed his aides to consider ways to make the main building a more efficient workspace, but due to difficulties in structural modifications such as high ceilings, he decided to relocate his main office.
At President Lee's request, core aides have also been brought together. In Yeomin Building 1, where President Lee will work daily, all three chief secretaries-Kang Hoonshik (Chief Presidential Secretary), Kim Yongbeom (Chief Policy Secretary), and Wi Sunglak (Chief National Security Secretary)-will be based. This move brings together the chief secretaries, who were previously spread across Yeomin Buildings 1, 2, and 3 during the Moon Jaein administration, to improve work efficiency and move away from the traditionally authoritative image of the presidency centered on Cheong Wa Dae.
In addition to the three chief secretaries, Yeomin Building 1 will house aides from the Protocol Secretary’s Office and the Speech Secretary’s Office, as well as Woo Sangho (Senior Political Secretary), Ha Jeongwoo (Senior Secretary for AI Future Planning), and Ha Junkyung (Senior Secretary for Economic Growth). Yeomin Building 2 will house the National Situation Room and the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, while Yeomin Building 3 will house the National Security Office and the Senior Secretary for Public Relations. Some departments will work from the newly constructed annex in Changseong-dong.
Cheong Wa Dae will continue its policy of transparent state administration by further expanding online live broadcasts and similar initiatives. The "open studio," previously located inside the Yongsan presidential office, will be moved to Sarangchae, where no separate entry application is required, to broaden communication with the public. The Presidential Security Service will also maintain its principles of open and low-profile security, minimizing checks on citizens and vehicles passing in front of Cheong Wa Dae. The "Daengdaeng Run" running course, shaped like a puppy and stretching from Gwanghwamun to Gyeongbokgung, Cheong Wa Dae, and Samcheong-dong, will remain open as usual without restrictions.
However, it is expected to take several more months before the presidential residence is relocated. This is due to significant damage sustained during the process of opening Cheong Wa Dae to the public under former President Yoon Sukyeol. As a result, President Lee will have to commute 8 to 9 kilometers between Hannam-dong and Cheong Wa Dae for the time being. The Presidential Security Service plans to minimize inconvenience to citizens by reducing the length of the motorcade and the scope of traffic control as much as possible. Chief Secretary Kang explained on December 24 that the residence was severely damaged and not easy to repair, saying, "When I went to see it, the wall was almost one meter thick, and since steel was also used, it seems that remodeling will take a long time."
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